Mid March 1st Round

The Browns should look to maximize their number of picks by trading down multiple times in this round. The first target should be a trade to the Minnesota Vikings at the #7 slot, who are in desperate need of a WR or a QB and would be eyeing Calvin Johnson or Brady Quinn. Trading down to this spot would get us their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounder according to the pick value chart.

Not stopping there. The Browns should ship the pick to the 49ers who are looking hard at DTs Alan Branch and Amobi Okoye. To make this trade the Browns would receive the 49ers 1st, 3rd, and 6th round picks.

Then the Browns should finally trade down from the 11th spot to the 16th pick of the Packers. The Packers will be looking to leapfrog Buffalo, who is looking for a RB, to select Marshawn Lynch. For this the Browns would receive the Packers 1st, 3rd, and 5th round picks.

With the 16th pick the Browns should pick OT Levi Brown of Penn State if he is somehow still on the board. However since that is not likely, the team should select CB Chris Houston of Arkansas. Houston jumped into the middle of the 1st round with his amazing numbers at the combine, posting sub 4.35 40s, great quickness, and strength surpassing most LBs. Houston is not limited to being a workout warrior either. He shut down such notable WRs as Dwayne Jarrett, Earl Bennett, Dallas Baker, Dwayne Bowe, Robert Meachem, and Courtney Taylor. The only WR who got the best of Houston this year was Sidney Rice. Houston will be a great, tough, cover corner who will also come up and defend the run on the edge.

Net of picks. Acquired 41st pick in 2nd round, 72nd, 76th, and 78th in 3rd, 147th in 5th, and 171st in the 6th.

Bad News from the Combine

There was some bad news over the weekend for the Browns. Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas, who seemed like a possible steal at the top of the 2nd round for the Browns absolutely dazzled at the Combine with his combination of strongest and fastest CB. This likely pushes him squarely into the middle of the 1st round. Joe Staley, LT, Central Michigan, though limited with a leg injury, might have played himself into the 1st round as well with an impressive showing, making him likely unavailable when the Browns pick.

One good note however was that Daymeion Hughes, CB, Cal, ran poor 40 times in the 4.7 range, likely meaning a drop into the middle of the 2nd round or even the 4th round. Hughes absolutely dominated every WR he was matched up with this season, regardless of how much faster they were than him. He has exceptional ball skills and QBs were very fearful of throwing his way. He seems to me to be a classic example of a guy slipping due to poor times and scouts forgetting what a dominating player he was in college. He would be the steal of the draft if he fell into the 4th round.

Early 2nd round

With the Browns first 2nd rounder I would look at Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas. Though not highly regarded before the season, Houston shut down Dwayne Jarrett, Robert Meachem, Dwayne Bowe, and Earl Bennett when he matched up with them one-on-one. A truly impressive run if you ask me that indicates his ability to raise his level of play in the spotlight and with the . Additionally Houston is a great tackler when supporting the run. If Blalock were selected in the 1st round I would look at Joe Staley, LT, CMU, with this pick. Staley is a former TE with great footwork and quickness against the pass rush, but is lacking the strength to be a great drive blocker.

With the Browns second 2nd rounder I would trade down about ten spots and pick up a mid range 5th rounder in the process. With the newly acquired second rounder I would select Jonathan Harrell, DT, Tennessee. Harrell is a large and powerful force at the point of attack who will be a great replacement for Ted Washington next season and giving him breathers this season. He is even quick enough to play at one of the DE spots on running downs. Harrell is so tough and passionate that he played the entire Florida game with a torn biceps that he injured the week before, going so far as to even attempt arm tackles with his bad arm.

The net effect of the trade was an additional 5th rounder.